Book Review | Eleven Numbers | Lee Child

Eleven Numbers

An American mathematician’s assignment in Russia spirals into a high-stakes maze of shifting loyalties and intrigue in a propulsive short thriller by #1 New York Times bestselling author Lee Child.

Nathan Tyler is an unassuming professor at a middling American university with a rather obscure specialty in mathematics—in short, a nobody from nowhere. So why is the White House calling? Summoned to Washington, DC, for a top-secret briefing, Nathan discovers that he’s the key to a massive foreign intelligence breakthrough. Reading between the lines of a cryptic series of equations, he could open a door straight into the heart of the Kremlin and change the global balance of power forever. All he has to do is get to a meeting with the renowned Russian mathematician who created it. But when Nathan crashes headlong into a dangerous new game, the odds against him suddenly look a lot steeper.

About Author

Lee Child is one of the world’s leading thriller writers. He was born in Coventry, raised in Birmingham, and now lives in New York. It is said one of his novels featuring his hero Jack Reacher is sold somewhere in the world every nine seconds. His books consistently achieve the number-one slot on bestseller lists around the world and have sold over one hundred million copies. Two blockbusting Jack Reacher movies have been made so far. He is the recipient of many awards, most recently Author of the Year at the 2019 British Book Awards. He was appointed CBE in the 2019 Queen’s Birthday Honours.

Non-review Rant

Unexpectedly noticed this one, didn’t know Lee Child writes short stories just for Amazon. I didn’t have KU subscription, planned to start spending money in 2026, but succumbed to the curiosity and subscribed on 30-Dec-2025. There goes my restraint.

I downloaded the book but didn’t read it. Restraint observed. Moot point, but still. Small victories.

Review

MIND.IS.BLOWN.

The amount of time I spent reading the book, also spent in googling and learning the amazing idea he has presented is all fictional. That talks a lot about author’s storytelling. He created a fictional concept so convincing, that I had to google.

Tyler’s journey reminded me of Dan Brown’s Deception Point Rachel Sexton’s journey to Arctic started the same way and was equally unpredictable and uncomfortable.

The narration was familiar yet different: I got the same feeling of restlessness that I get while reading Reacher’s adventures; this one literally taking my breath away in some parts (when Tyler is captured). And yet it was different because Nathan Tyler is poles apart from Jack Reacher.

Notes

14%
But there were fifty others in the world just as good. Maybe a hundred. His publication history was competitive. He had contributed to all the important journals. But so had fifty others. Maybe a hundred.
Shabana Mukhtar: Love Lee’s repetitions.

20%
a spectacular body of work across an absurdly wide range of interests.
Shabana Mukhtar: #relatable as in I have an un-spectacular body of work across an absurdly wide range of interests. So absurd!

24%
discovered not invented,
Shabana Mukhtar: interesting phrase.

30%
The same but different.
Shabana Mukhtar: I know, right?

47%
Tyler said he would do his best. McGinn wished him luck.
Shabana Mukhtar: I tend to write dialogues instead of narration, Lee converts conversation into narration. And it works.

51%
Tyler sat for a long moment, battered by the airbags, bruised by the seat belt, deafened by the impact, sickened by the violent motion.
Shabana Mukhtar: This is where I forgot to breathe. Stories have that effect on me. I felt as if it was happening to me.

60%
We expect the same of visitors to our country.
Shabana Mukhtar: That guy was US Embassy attache and he called Russia “our country”. Is the atmosphere really so fearful there? Yikes!

The Final Verdict

Must read.

Stay tuned for more book reviews.

Until next time, happy reading!

~~~

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Shabana Mukhtar

The Other Me Unfolded